The Boys & Girls Club of New Haven would like to take a minute to thank everyone who came out for our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. A special shout out to Comcast and NewAlliance Foundation for funding this project and Mayor Toni Harp for speaking at the ceremony.

The Center of Innovation will give club members access to a state-of-the art “Technology Center” with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), which is a key strategy of our The Great Futures Campaign.

In addition, the Center will allow the Club to roll out more programs, like the My.Future technology initiative, a cutting-edge technology education program that provides hands-on experience and enables Boys & Girls Club members to select from more than 40 activities to help them understand how to safely and productively engage online, and identify and develop digital interests – from Internet basics for technology beginners, to robotics, coding, game design and online journalism for advanced learners. Comcast is the Presenting Sponsor of the My.Future technology initiative and in 2015, the Comcast Foundation invested more than $3 million in Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) My.Future technology initiative.

“We’re pleased to support the New Haven Boys & Girls Club and thank them for all they do in the New Haven community,” said Kristen Roberts, Vice President of Public Relations and Community Investment for Comcast’s Western New England Region, which includes Connecticut. “Comcast is dedicated to expanding digital literacy, promoting service and building tomorrow’s leaders, and support of this technology center helps to bridge the digital divide so that all students have access to computers and the internet, along with the training to understand how to use them safely.”

Grant will provide new skill-building and educational experiences for More Than 200 Club Members and Open Doors to New Opportunities and Brighter Futures

NEW HAVEN, CT. OCTOBER 26, 2015 – Boys & Girls Club of New Haven is being recognized with a $10,000 grant from the NewAlliance Foundation- Technology Grant Program for Club Members to provide youth access to new skill-building opportunities and other supports to improve their educational and career success. The Center for Innovation will allow the Club to address diverse styles of learning. Youth will participate in project-based, hands-on activities which promote creativity and the development of participant self-expression. Club members will have opportunities to explore, experiment and test their own ideas through new digital tools.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, eighty percent (80%) of jobs in the next decade will require a solid foundation of technical skills. Based on these statistics, it is imperative that young people have the technology resources to build upon the digital literacy skills needed for the future global workforce and economy. Youth will have the technology tools they need to improve their academic skills in core subject areas. By incorporating innovative digital, group-orientated learning, the Club will assist young people in strengthening their character development, leadership and college/career readiness skills.

The grant, awarded by the New Alliance Foundation for our young people, will allow an estimated 200 New Haven-area youth to experience new and stimulating programs which combine education, technology, workforce and the arts.

“We are extremely grateful to the NewAlliance Foundation and excited about the new opportunities that await our Club members,” said the Club’s Executive Director, Stephanie Barnes.

The NewAlliance Foundation- Technology Grant Program was designed in 2015 to support organizations with limited capacity to upgrade, maintain or expand technology needs, NewAlliance Foundation recognizes that it is challenging for organizations to keep technology current, which is vital to their ability to carry out their missions with efficiency and competence.

About Us

The Boys & Girls Club of New Haven provides programs full of education and enrichment for children and families, especially those from low-income households. Most importantly, the Club helps those who need it most! Our Club reaches out to kids who cannot afford, or may lack access to, other community programs.

Our Club is open every day, after school, when kids have free time and need positive productive outlets. We currently serve over 1000 youth through various programs. Nearly 350 youth benefit from our programs daily. Over 54% of our members come from low-income households.